Analysis

I was honoured to be asked to deliver this major report for Christian Aid/Saferworld. Securing long-term security in South Sudan requires much more than deals between political leaders.

This was a great opportunity to inform the United States Special Envoy on Sudan and South Sudan’s approach to the sad yet endlessly fascinating intractable conflict over Abyei - Confidential

I led a team of researchers to undertake conflict analysis and develop strategic plans for engagement across three key regional conflicts. How best for the country’s only truly national civil society movement to engage?

For this confidential assignment I spent 3 months solo moving among the Sudan-South Sudan borderlands. I uncovered a complex network of armed groups, discovered their economic logic, and provided clear entry points for engagement.

In-depth fieldwork produced this detailed review of conflict and cooperation across the newly established international border. I’m pleased it added much needed depth to efforts to support practical peace processes on the ground.

This is our pre-secession comprehensive conflict analysis of the contested Sudan-South Sudan border. As project manager and lead researcher for Concordis, this epic effort was informed by workshops in 9 locations. The report led to tangible and widespread changes in policy and programming.

What a treat to write about the essential and electric theatre scene in South Sudan. From street shows to theatre festivals this is without doubt the most exciting, urgent and expressive art I have ever had the privilege to see. So very important it hurts to think about it.

I coordinated and drafted this high-level parliamentary inquiry into International Engagement with South Sudan 2011-2014, chaired by Baroness Kinnock. The inquiry received submissions and heard evidence from UK, EU, and RoSS officials, INGOs, and analysts.

Oxfam Global asked me to map South Sudan’s media sector, to inform a national Edutainment Strategy. It was a good opportunity to highlight informal networks and information flows that would otherwise have remained under the radar.

Policy briefing negotiations input co-written with preeminent borderlands scholar Anthony Asiwaju, covering Nigeria’s Inter-governmental mechanisms as inspiration for border management strategies in East Africa.

Policy briefing negotiations input co-written with the UN Group of Expert's Nelson Alusala, covering soft and hard border approaches to arms control and security management from different African and international contexts.

Policy briefing negotiations input co-written with Inter-Afriques Unit’s Dr. Mohamadou Abdoul, focusing on harmonising local and high level initiatives for cross border economic cooperation.

I provided a Secretariat to the Inter-Parliamentary Group’s inquiry into Food Security and Conflict in Africa, drafting the report in close cooperation with the cross-bench panel of parliamentarians and delivering clear and targted recommendations to the UK and partners.

This was a heavily researched report based on a parliamentary visit to Khartoum, Juba and Geneina and high-level hearings and submissions. It was my attempt to do justice to all aspects of the CPA and to raise awareness of the some of the most important, yet most overlooked articles.

Working with state officials in Upper Nile and Unity States, I helped co-develop and draft state border management policies. The approach was really to identify and codify ‘essential’ principles and practices - a mix of pre-colonial, colonial and more recent models.